NS assists Georgia community affected by derailment

Norfolk Southern Railway will keep an assistance center open through Wednesday to serve families and businesses affected by last week's train derailment near Bartow, Georgia.

Some of the train's 39 cars that derailed were carrying chlorine, and chlorine odors and a cloud were reported in the area after the accident, which occurred around 8 p.m. on Jan. 6, according to an NS statement.

The incident prompted a temporary evacuation. It was later determined that hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid — and not chlorine — had been released as a result of the derailment.

NS opened its assistance center in Louisville on Jan. 7. The Class I is compensating affected members of the community for their inconvenience and out-of-pocket expenses, NS officials said in a post late last week on the railroad's website.

"Environmental teams are continuously monitoring the air in Bartow and other community areas surrounding the derailment and will continue monitoring until the chemicals have been removed from the site," they said.

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.